"I took a last look around the countryside aware that something was going on! There was more than the eye could meet. Nearing the top of the slope I turned to the right and noticed split sticks with a piece of paper containing words at intervals with more of the same containing messages that could be arranged pertaining to assembly points and times of droppings.
I walked on until I came to an open field, more like a short landing strip to me, which indeed it was. After all this I came back to my starting point and noticed a little hamlet almost hidden by the foliage which stirred my curiousity. I first went to the Cafe-Bistro where some of the locals were playing billiards and they invited me to have a game. It is probable that they had seen me and had watched my movements for a while before this. After a few pernods, we chatted away and it turned out that they decided to take me into their confidence. They were doing resistance work and were interested in getting new recruits.
After taking my leave, I was glad of the information I had gathered and quickly left Gourcy-aux Loges bearing in mind that the trail I had recently found was not because of my friend George! I returned to Compiegne junction to get the first train back to Brussels. I was lucky because my pass was in good order still and I found no harrassment on the train.
I went straight to my Aunt Helen and after a good reception and telling them of my urgency to get to England because of my close association with George and his pursuers. My Aunt got someone to come over who cross-examined me and asked all about the information I had gathered in Soissons, concerning the cables and bunkers in the ridge. It turned out that this area was intended to be used for some of the new weapons they had in mind and the General Headquarters which were to be installed there in case of an invasion.
The lady in question was told by my aunt of my wish to get to England and the fact that I was being pursued because of my previous exploits. She looked me straight in the eye and said: "You go to St. Jean-De.Luz, to Hotel-Du-Tourisme and tell them you are sent by me - mentioning her name, Madam De Nile, and that was it; for all the contacts I had had this one was the most important and I just knew I had to take her advice...
With this information I proceeded on my way to Ostend, looked up George but he had literally gone underground and instead I met Daniel who had just received his shoes and papers, ready to be transported to Germany... "There is no time to lose" I said, "ÿou come with me"!
At this point, it was the goodbye's to my mother that I will remember for ever, she knew that something was in the offing and came with me to the small cross-country train which I was taking as a precaution. The departure was very moving of course, like the soldiers going to the front in "Farewell to Arms".......
To be continued ...
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Day 19 - Something was brewing in those hills!
"Once outside the zone we changed our direction and made for the French Border which passed somewhere betwen Mouscron and Hallcwyn without any trouble. Arriving in Lille, where we made a short visit, we slept in the roomy hall of The Station and gathered as much information from travellers as we could.
There was work in Albert near Arras so we headed for there on the direct line. On the train we got even better news about the ancient Soissons and Reims regions, they were building certain fortifications on the old ridge over there, we had to find out more, this could be important, maybe a second line or for the use of special weoponry. It turned out to be both. The contractors were busy engaging people when we arrived so we fell straight in there, we were installed in an old glass factory Gourcy-Aux-Loges near the crest of the hill. Firstly, we looked after the storage of the incoming material near a bend of the river which the Germans used for swimming, we had two guards with us all the time who looked like Austrians, more like Laurel and Hardy types.
One day we took off and hid in the straw to have a nap after investigating all the thick copper insulated wire coils we found stacked up, there was more of that than anything else to come. Something important was brewing in those hills!
We thought the guards would soon go but they stayed longer than we expected, all this time guarding a big barrelled fire extinguisher on wheels inbetween them, we kept looking behind the bale to see them go but they didn't, after a time, annoyed and fed-up, the Laurel one kicked the barrell in some place and by accident found a valve that opened up and something spluttered all over them, in a short time they were covered in a white liquid.
The Hardy character one swearing and telling the other one off, we burst out laughing and then crept out steathily. After us, the guards left and we had no time to set the place a light because of the soldiers entertaining themselves in the front. They took us to be delegated helpers and didn't take the slightest notice of us at as we passed them by. In one of those light moments we just managed to get out in time but kept in mind a chance for a later attempt, maybe night time would be better!
Soisson was a nice little town full of young girls our age looking for entertainment and pleasure as the war was dragging along, not marriage either, more serious matters could wait. This kept us fairly busy, the town's attractions of cinemas, dance halls and general sightseeing and roaming the wild hills nearby.
Soisson is known for the vase of the same name, where Clovis the King of Franks is supposed to have meted out a Solomon's judgement on two of his warriors who were arguing and drawing swords over the Roman Celtic booty. He just hacked the enormous and precious vase to pieces solving the problem at once, which is to this day depicted by the statue in the village square.
I believe Joanne of D'Arc slept and passed through Soisson too, anyway, the food was still edible, good bread and madeleines for us to fill up on. The dance halls were swinging to the sound of Tartacala the gypsy girl.
The sun shone on our trenches as we dug the windswept ridges to drop the big cables and ourselves in, after the roasting of potatoes enriched with butter or fat, cooked on a stick over open fires.
Occasionally, we dug up the bones of the old fallen soldiers from the 1914-18 War, which were cereomonially reburied by the villagers in the war graves cemetery.
Things went along like this for some time, until one day, I couldn't find George returning late from one of his escapades with the girls. He left a note for me to say that the Gestapo was after him, he'd packed up and returned to Ostend.
I thought I had better follow without making myself too conspicuous ..."
To be continued ...
There was work in Albert near Arras so we headed for there on the direct line. On the train we got even better news about the ancient Soissons and Reims regions, they were building certain fortifications on the old ridge over there, we had to find out more, this could be important, maybe a second line or for the use of special weoponry. It turned out to be both. The contractors were busy engaging people when we arrived so we fell straight in there, we were installed in an old glass factory Gourcy-Aux-Loges near the crest of the hill. Firstly, we looked after the storage of the incoming material near a bend of the river which the Germans used for swimming, we had two guards with us all the time who looked like Austrians, more like Laurel and Hardy types.
One day we took off and hid in the straw to have a nap after investigating all the thick copper insulated wire coils we found stacked up, there was more of that than anything else to come. Something important was brewing in those hills!
We thought the guards would soon go but they stayed longer than we expected, all this time guarding a big barrelled fire extinguisher on wheels inbetween them, we kept looking behind the bale to see them go but they didn't, after a time, annoyed and fed-up, the Laurel one kicked the barrell in some place and by accident found a valve that opened up and something spluttered all over them, in a short time they were covered in a white liquid.
The Hardy character one swearing and telling the other one off, we burst out laughing and then crept out steathily. After us, the guards left and we had no time to set the place a light because of the soldiers entertaining themselves in the front. They took us to be delegated helpers and didn't take the slightest notice of us at as we passed them by. In one of those light moments we just managed to get out in time but kept in mind a chance for a later attempt, maybe night time would be better!
Soisson was a nice little town full of young girls our age looking for entertainment and pleasure as the war was dragging along, not marriage either, more serious matters could wait. This kept us fairly busy, the town's attractions of cinemas, dance halls and general sightseeing and roaming the wild hills nearby.
Soisson is known for the vase of the same name, where Clovis the King of Franks is supposed to have meted out a Solomon's judgement on two of his warriors who were arguing and drawing swords over the Roman Celtic booty. He just hacked the enormous and precious vase to pieces solving the problem at once, which is to this day depicted by the statue in the village square.
I believe Joanne of D'Arc slept and passed through Soisson too, anyway, the food was still edible, good bread and madeleines for us to fill up on. The dance halls were swinging to the sound of Tartacala the gypsy girl.
The sun shone on our trenches as we dug the windswept ridges to drop the big cables and ourselves in, after the roasting of potatoes enriched with butter or fat, cooked on a stick over open fires.
Occasionally, we dug up the bones of the old fallen soldiers from the 1914-18 War, which were cereomonially reburied by the villagers in the war graves cemetery.
Things went along like this for some time, until one day, I couldn't find George returning late from one of his escapades with the girls. He left a note for me to say that the Gestapo was after him, he'd packed up and returned to Ostend.
I thought I had better follow without making myself too conspicuous ..."
To be continued ...
Friday, 13 January 2012
"Day 18 - The Passes were Perfect! Spring 1942!
"Otherwise we had a pleasant day in that town gathering presents and tins of biscuits unattainable at home. Our exploits and earnings here enabled the people at home to have an extra ration for once while we were being fed here. One of the other objects we bought was a beautiful knife with an inlaid bone handle, a spanish style flick knife, made for hand to hand fighting, which we knew we could use to defend ourselves if necessary.
I then spent time in another place south of Cherbourg named Brickebec and Quetehou. While I was there I became ill and during my stay in the barracks with a fever I became acquainted with a secret group of Gaullists and other resistance groups doing the same as us, infiltrating and monitoring.
They talked me in to being available for operations with their cause. Things were going our way. They only one left with me now was Everaeart who joined them and was there when the invasion took place. I didn't recuperate well enough and was sent home on sick leave.
As the people at home knew of my endeavours they tried to circulate news to help me find proper contacts. I still had to physically improve my weakened condition left me feeling short of breath and coughing. I also had my arm lanced because of infected boils. My Mother was worried so I took it easy for the winter and continued studying at the trade school. It was a welcome interval, we all had come to know each other again.
There was no respite from the regular bombing which were intended for the convoys and flak guns. Our Allies considered our position and tried for military targets only. I gave information on all the things and installations I had seen to the monitoring teachers at school and this information found its way to England and everything was kept up to date.
Some cinema's are reopened and were showing German U.F.A. films and propoganda pieces grossly overrated. Austrian films showing comics were not too bad. In this way we heard of Zarah Leander who turned out to be a Russian spy in the midst of the German High Command. We also saw Marika Rok a Hungarian dancer and cabaret star.
There was also boxing still at its peak with Karel Sys going to fight Ole, Tandberg in Sweden. He was a Cassuis Clay style of boxer and not damaged in any way. In fact, the whole team were excellent boxers. They would pay for their collaboration after the war with their promoter, Theo Vanhaverbeke.
I didn't hear from John anymore, I couldn't trust him too much and then one day I was watched by a blackshirt while at the doctors. I was sure it was me that he was after, one got that feeling of being under observation.
There is little I can say about this episode except that I passed the time studying more and one evening under the curfew, I fell into the cellar of a bombed house after leaving the cinema. I lost consciousness for a moment and then somebody helped me out of the hole. I had cut the side of my face open which held me up for a while. In the interim I met two old friends George and Daniel and I asked if they would come and join me in going to England or North Africa. They were interested and by the Spring of 1942 we were ready for this operation to begin.
I took George on a trial run and Daniel was nowhere to be found. George was an expect at forging passes and official stamps, we passed the coastal limit zone across Pachendael's old bridge controlled by the Germans who saluted us. The passes were perfect."
To be continued .....
I then spent time in another place south of Cherbourg named Brickebec and Quetehou. While I was there I became ill and during my stay in the barracks with a fever I became acquainted with a secret group of Gaullists and other resistance groups doing the same as us, infiltrating and monitoring.
They talked me in to being available for operations with their cause. Things were going our way. They only one left with me now was Everaeart who joined them and was there when the invasion took place. I didn't recuperate well enough and was sent home on sick leave.
As the people at home knew of my endeavours they tried to circulate news to help me find proper contacts. I still had to physically improve my weakened condition left me feeling short of breath and coughing. I also had my arm lanced because of infected boils. My Mother was worried so I took it easy for the winter and continued studying at the trade school. It was a welcome interval, we all had come to know each other again.
There was no respite from the regular bombing which were intended for the convoys and flak guns. Our Allies considered our position and tried for military targets only. I gave information on all the things and installations I had seen to the monitoring teachers at school and this information found its way to England and everything was kept up to date.
Some cinema's are reopened and were showing German U.F.A. films and propoganda pieces grossly overrated. Austrian films showing comics were not too bad. In this way we heard of Zarah Leander who turned out to be a Russian spy in the midst of the German High Command. We also saw Marika Rok a Hungarian dancer and cabaret star.
There was also boxing still at its peak with Karel Sys going to fight Ole, Tandberg in Sweden. He was a Cassuis Clay style of boxer and not damaged in any way. In fact, the whole team were excellent boxers. They would pay for their collaboration after the war with their promoter, Theo Vanhaverbeke.
I didn't hear from John anymore, I couldn't trust him too much and then one day I was watched by a blackshirt while at the doctors. I was sure it was me that he was after, one got that feeling of being under observation.
There is little I can say about this episode except that I passed the time studying more and one evening under the curfew, I fell into the cellar of a bombed house after leaving the cinema. I lost consciousness for a moment and then somebody helped me out of the hole. I had cut the side of my face open which held me up for a while. In the interim I met two old friends George and Daniel and I asked if they would come and join me in going to England or North Africa. They were interested and by the Spring of 1942 we were ready for this operation to begin.
I took George on a trial run and Daniel was nowhere to be found. George was an expect at forging passes and official stamps, we passed the coastal limit zone across Pachendael's old bridge controlled by the Germans who saluted us. The passes were perfect."
To be continued .....
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Day 17 - Tod's and Caught in the Middle Again!
"The next day John arrived and gave me a good telling off. I told him that I had missed the train. He than told me that my mates had told him everything...!He was responsible for me and said put it all down to experience. The same evening we were back in the fold with the others after a hectic trip across Normandy and arrived at "Le Petite Swiss Normande. The Tod organization was present with architects and supervisors, also with a few ramrods assisting. It was a quasi militarised organization of drop-outs, army rejects and a few old ones. They were dressed in light khaki uniforms.
In the morning, after John had introduced us, we were briefed and John departed to go back somewhere, Belgium? We were taken to an open clearing at the summit of a hill. From what I could make out it was a pyramid built tower structure with a central control and a huge screen similar to that found in a drive-in cinema but grilled and facing the seaside. It appeared to be Radar but not quite as sophisticated as the British Radar. Their specialists resembled air force personnel.
The work we had to do was jolly hard work. The rock face was hard and difficult. The slower we worked the less the Germans would be able to use the Radar but the ramrods and supervisors saw to it that we kept hard at work. Moving the tiploaders tracks I found back breaking. I seemed to get all the load to myself.
When we had finished the building and screen on the hill they took us further afield to Beaumont on the left side of the Cherbourg Peninsular, then to St. Pierre LÉglise which was in front of a large convent. I believe, that later, Pierre-Eglise was used by the Americans during the invasion as a landing sight, near to Utah Beach. Beaumont had another Radar that was very vulnerable to straffing and attack.
One of the Tod men in charge was a typical bully ordering everybody around in the worst possible manner and we thought he was in need of a hard lesson. One day we decided to teach the bully a lesson. While he was picking up dirty cement bags he called us "Dirty French", he then made a huge pile of the cement bags and set light to it. The flames went up very high and burnt the camouflage nets... His smile quickly froze when he saw the chain reaction.
Most of us acted as though we hadn't seen anything till he started screaming fire and then he started to panic, running frantically with buckets of water until it was under control. He then suddenly disappeared from the scene and we were never bothered again.
We also had a fearless strong man in our group called Jan. One day, it didn't take too long for a fight to start after the German soldier's started singing, "We are sailing against England" and referred to the bombing of Coventry. Jan was involved in the fight and got stabbed in the back by a short dagger like bayonet as he was tackling two of them at the same time. The rest of us got rounded up by Tod's military police and transferred to "Tod's" security jail. Jan was taken to hospital and lost a lot of blood but survived he was given sick leave and never came back. The rest of us had a day in the cooler and afterwards we had to run behind their bicycles towards the convent a couple of miles away before we were dismissed.
On our last day, we had a shopping spree in Cherbourg. As there was no suitable transport we took our chances and travelled partly in a french dustcart standing upright, holding our noses and then later in a picturesque little train rolling along the coast. We finally reached Cherbourg in safety to find that a raid had been made on the beach incurring a number of casualities. Some of the casualties were from our group who had been mistaken for Germans. This was our lot to be caught between the various fighting factions. An unpleasant situation inflicted on us because the German's presence was everywhere".
To be continued ...
In the morning, after John had introduced us, we were briefed and John departed to go back somewhere, Belgium? We were taken to an open clearing at the summit of a hill. From what I could make out it was a pyramid built tower structure with a central control and a huge screen similar to that found in a drive-in cinema but grilled and facing the seaside. It appeared to be Radar but not quite as sophisticated as the British Radar. Their specialists resembled air force personnel.
The work we had to do was jolly hard work. The rock face was hard and difficult. The slower we worked the less the Germans would be able to use the Radar but the ramrods and supervisors saw to it that we kept hard at work. Moving the tiploaders tracks I found back breaking. I seemed to get all the load to myself.
When we had finished the building and screen on the hill they took us further afield to Beaumont on the left side of the Cherbourg Peninsular, then to St. Pierre LÉglise which was in front of a large convent. I believe, that later, Pierre-Eglise was used by the Americans during the invasion as a landing sight, near to Utah Beach. Beaumont had another Radar that was very vulnerable to straffing and attack.
One of the Tod men in charge was a typical bully ordering everybody around in the worst possible manner and we thought he was in need of a hard lesson. One day we decided to teach the bully a lesson. While he was picking up dirty cement bags he called us "Dirty French", he then made a huge pile of the cement bags and set light to it. The flames went up very high and burnt the camouflage nets... His smile quickly froze when he saw the chain reaction.
Most of us acted as though we hadn't seen anything till he started screaming fire and then he started to panic, running frantically with buckets of water until it was under control. He then suddenly disappeared from the scene and we were never bothered again.
We also had a fearless strong man in our group called Jan. One day, it didn't take too long for a fight to start after the German soldier's started singing, "We are sailing against England" and referred to the bombing of Coventry. Jan was involved in the fight and got stabbed in the back by a short dagger like bayonet as he was tackling two of them at the same time. The rest of us got rounded up by Tod's military police and transferred to "Tod's" security jail. Jan was taken to hospital and lost a lot of blood but survived he was given sick leave and never came back. The rest of us had a day in the cooler and afterwards we had to run behind their bicycles towards the convent a couple of miles away before we were dismissed.
On our last day, we had a shopping spree in Cherbourg. As there was no suitable transport we took our chances and travelled partly in a french dustcart standing upright, holding our noses and then later in a picturesque little train rolling along the coast. We finally reached Cherbourg in safety to find that a raid had been made on the beach incurring a number of casualities. Some of the casualties were from our group who had been mistaken for Germans. This was our lot to be caught between the various fighting factions. An unpleasant situation inflicted on us because the German's presence was everywhere".
To be continued ...
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